Q. I’ve used Denon receivers for years and never had a problem before. However, the new AVR-1910 (and only this model) has a weird quirk whereas when using either a Key Digital or Spectrum HDMI to Cat 5/Cat 6 converter, (even with only a 50-foot run of dual Cat 6), it will not produce video.

Anyone else out there running into this problem? And if so, has anyone successfully made it work? My best guess is that there’s nothing wrong with the converter boxes that I had on this job site, (because I’ve used them on other jobs with no problems and in my home with my OPPO BDP83 on an older Denon AVR-2808), and the problem is with the AVR-1910. Any suggestions or solutions would be greatly appreciated. - Dave Stevens of Steven’s Audio

A. Shannon Orebaugh of Custom Wiring Concepts added this on the CE Pro Forums:

Have you tried pre-tested (tested with at least a different Denon AVR) converters? Based on Denon confessing to having a problem, your done troubleshooting.

The last time I had converter issues, I pulled a test/temp, CAT6 (same length) between the AVR and display across the floor to eliminate the pre-wired CAT6 cable. That happened to be Component over CAT6 and the job had two TVs. That troubleshooting method proved the problem to be with the TV, since the second TV worked (Vizio worked and the NuVision didn’t. The NuVision was more sensitive to Component level voltages, which were low.

Troubleshooting is nothing more than eliminating variables. Good luck!

Stevens: Been there, done that. The TV is a new 58” Samsung model and its voltage level is right on the money. I truly appreciate the advice & help. Jeff Boccaccio is working on this as we speak. If he can’t solve the problem, then we know not to sell any more AVR-1910s for this type of installation.

Orebaugh: Interesting the TV is a Samsung. The one and only problem I’ve had with a 15m Ethereal HDMI cable was with a Samsung. I’ve since stopped using HDMI cables over 6m. Don’t you love this business? [There’s a] new manufactured problem with every model change.

Stevens: The original HDMI problems with the older Samsung TVs was the handshake between the TV and 1st generation Scientific Atlanta HD cable boxes. Samsung & SA have corrected that problem a year ago. I will not go beyond 4 meters with any HDMI cable, that’s why I use the Spectrum BX170 Cat 5/6 converter boxes. I used to sell the Key Digital piece, but the Spectrum box offers more for less money.

By the way: Marantz A/V receivers also have this problem. It’s no wonder because Denon and Marantz are the same company. However, I can’t stand Marantz because their internal programming menus [aren’t intuitive]. It takes 15 minutes to find what you’re looking for on a Marantz and only 2 minutes (and that’s only if you’ve never done it before) to perform the same system set up on a Denon.